Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to take steps to ensure that there is independent oversight of the conduct of troops of the African Union Mission in Somalia.

We welcome the deployment of a civilian delegation from the African Union (AU) to Somalia to investigate the process for dealing with complaints of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces. We will continue to engage with the AU on the recommendations that stem from that investigation and the recommendations of the recent Human Rights Watch Report, and are considering what practical assistance the UK can provide towards this end. When the Minister for Africa, my hon. Friend the Member for Rochford and Southend East (James Duddridge), met AU senior officials and foreign ministers from AMISOM troop contribution countries during the UN General Assembly in New York in September, he urged a full and transparent investigation into allegations of sexual abuse by AMISOM troops.

The UK already supports pre-deployment training programmes for AMISOM on prevention of sexual violence, international human rights laws, and best practice in assisting women and children in the aftermath of violent conflict. The UK also contributes to the AU’s Gender Peace and Security Programme, aimed at mainstreaming gender best practice into AU peace and security activities.